San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-10-03
CHAPTER ".
NE KTNG's CLEMENCY.

/
upon all that called dear, and was left
outside.
The young man, John Beer, the same
whose appetite for brandy had done us so
much mischief, found me lodging with
respectable people, and l waited in trouble
Of soul for the morning
AT ., after waiting outside for two
long hours, | obtained admission TO the
J prison. | went in trembling, and expected
! 10 see the prisoners jangling their chains
In despair. / looked for signs and pray
ers, for the tears Of repentance and the
groans of remoTse. | found nothing OF
the kind. The courtyard was half full of
men who were all laughing, talking,
drinking and singing.
My own party were not in the court
yard. Dan CULVER and his sons were no
common criminals. They had obtained,
m payment Of certain fees, the use of a
ward ali TO themselves, where l found
theli. II was large and cheerful room,
| but disfigured by the odious bars over the
windows. Dan was pacing backward and
| forward; Job and Jephthah were sitting
side by side in one corner, their hands
folded in silence and resignation; Will
was at the table writing.
1--WE must be very clear and precise
about this statement, Dan," he was say
| ing. "There must be no possible misun-
| derstanding. They must be made to see
| that this is no cock and bull story, got up
| by us to help us out of our scrape."
Dan nodded reflectively.
"Now this is what | have written
| Pleasance, you are come to see us in our
| temporary home. Limited the accOmmo-
| datiOn, but we must make the best of it.
Sit down, child, while we finish our bust
ness Now Dan:
| " This is the statement of me, Daniel
| CULVER, of Rousdon farm, parish Of
| Rousdon, near the town Of Lyme Regis.
{" 'On Wednesday evening, Oct. 81, in
| this year 1903, / was on board my boat,
the Dancing Polly, off the coast of France,
| homeward bound. was running a cargo
| of brandy, in the landing of which | was
| caught and arrested by the revenue Off
GERS, and am now, with my two sons and
young man who was staying in my
| house, committed for trial for that of
| Tense.
we took in our cargo at Barfeur, on
Wednesday morning. We started, the
wind being then light, but afterward
| freshening, and southeast by south-a ia
vorable wind for us, but bad for the ships
we met later on in the channel.
Ten miles, or thereabouts, due north
from Point Barfeur they were-three
men O. war, eight frigates and small craft.
They were beating up channel, apparently
west by north, though the wind was dead
| against them and they was flying French
| colors.
" On the Dancing Polly we was about
| half mile to starboard Of the enemy's
| fleet. One Of the ships hailed us to haul
down and lay to; but we held on, seeing
the breeze was freshening and all in our
| favor.
| "'At 3 o'clock or so we made Rous-
| don bay, intending to sci on news of the
| enemy'S fleet as soon ~ we could. I'm
| fortunately we were caught by the officers
| and arrested. So have lost no time in
putting on paper the observations we
made as to the whereabouts of the enemy
:" am in the hope that this intelligence
may prove Of use to his majesty's govern
ment, and that the diligence have used
in forwarding it Immediately may be taken
into account against the fact of my having
broken the law in my venture to the
| French coast"
81 don't think Dan," said Will, after
| CAREFUL reading the whole, 'that we can
| do much more good to the document
| There is the information, fresh and valu-
| able and trustworthy. Nelson would like
| it if the officials do not; but they would
| not dare to shelve it. And Row, Dan,
| you must sign"
Dan CULVER, after making ,areful
preparations for writing commou to p.eo-
| pie of that time unaccustOmed to sign
| their names, perpetrated a form which he
meant to stand for Daniel CULVER, while
Job and Jephthah looked on in silent ad-
miration Anything their father did was
| great and beautiful. For that parental
respect | honor their memory.
That done, "Now, Pleasance," said
| Will, who had taken the entire command
| of the business, ''please go into the town,
ascertain who is the best lawyer in the
tOwn-the gentlefOlk's lawyer Go, call at
| his office, and bring him here without a
moments delay"
"Tell him not to fear about money, for
there is plenty under the hearthstone,"
said Dan.
1t was not difficult to find the best
lawyer in Dorchester. Everybody sent me
| to Mr.. Copas. l found him an elderly
| gentleman who wore a large wig and
looked like dignitary of the church.
"This sort of case does not lie in the
ordinary course Of my practice" he said;
81 recommend you to go to Mr.. Ferret,
whose clients chiefly consist Of
81 think sir, said, that when you
know who one Of the smugglers is you
will not refuse to act for us. Pray, pray
come and see himl And, oh! if it is the
money you are thinking of, Dan says
there is plenty of money under the hearth
stOneh
Mr. Copas smiled.
at had better be in the bank, child.
Well, will go with you. But l do not
| promise anything"
We found Will alone in the ward, still
| busy with paper and pen. He was graver
than usual, as was only natural, but
| when his eyes met mine he smiled in his
quiet and sympathetic way.
"Now, my good fellow" said Mr.. Copas,
in patronizing and friendly tone, tell
me what you have to say, but do not
waste time, and tell the truth"
"What | have to say is, Mr.. Copas,"
said Will, that l am gentleman who
has got into scrape with three most
worthy smugglers."
"a gentleman Well, you do not look
like a sailor. But go on"
"My name is Campion. i am the only
son of the late Sir Godfrey Campion, and
the chief partner in the firm Of
Good heavensl And you asmugglerf"
| "Well, not exactly. But l went for
venture with Dan CULVER, and we were
all caught. That is the story"
| "But you-you, my dear sir-the in
auence of your family must be brought to
bear. Your case must be separated"
Here VIII interposed.
70 ha